Man charged with second-degree murder in wreck that killed teens

LUMBERTON -- Charges of second-degree murder were handed down by a grand jury Tuesday against an alleged impaired driver who killed a young Wilmington couple in a head-on collision in Robeson County in February.

Broderick Lamont Jones, 38, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of felony death by vehicle, and one count each of driving while impaired, reckless driving and driving the wrong way in the Feb. 6 deaths of Dana Michelle Wilson, and Ryan Michael Menke, both 18.

According to Robeson County District Attorney Investigator Erich Von Hackney, Jones, of Proctorville, was arrested Tuesday and is being held in the Robeson County Jail. His bail is set at $222,500.

Hackney and Lumberton Police Officer Cedrique Bridges found in their investigation that Jones had just left a Super Bowl party, when he drove a 1989 Oldsmobile sedan onto U.S. 74 “by accessing a westbound exit ramp instead of an eastbound entrance ramp.”

Jones continued eastbound in the westbound lanes where a witness had to swerve to avoid colliding with him near Pembroke, Hackney said. Nine miles east of Pembroke near N.C. 41 Jones struck head-on a westbound 2005 Ford sedan driven by Wilson and in which Menke was a passenger, Hackney said.

The combined speed at impact was estimated at 150 mph, Hackney said. Wilson and Menke were pronounced dead at the scene. The couple, who began dating in their junior year at Laney High School, were en route from visiting family in Wilmington to their new home in Mecklenburg County where Wilson was a student at the University of North Carolina Charlotte.

Hackeny said a blood draw determined Jones’ blood-alcohol content was twice the legal limit of .08.

He said Jones' arrest was delayed because he was seriously injured in the crash and spent some time in the hospital.

Jones driving history includes three 30-day suspensions for impaired driving. He also has convictions for assault, drug possession and sales.

His brother Walter Lee Bethea, 32, who owned the Oldsmobile, was arrested in Aug. 3 on a charge of permitting a motor vehicle to be operated without having financial responsibility. The vehicle had no insurance, Hackney said.

“This has been an especially long and difficult case which resulted in the senseless death(s) of two great kids who were only 18 years old," Hackney said. "They had their whole lives to look forward to together which was taken in a split second.”

A court date for Jones is set for Sept. 5.

Reporter F.T. Norton can be reached at 910-343-2070 or Fran.Norton@StarNewsOnline.com.